04-08-2008, 05:10 PM
St. Paul, Minn. (PRWEB) April 8, 2008 -- OceanGrafix, the first company to offer print-on-demand nautical charts, today announced the availability of 40 new chart editions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These new charts are the final product of work done by NOAA's expert cartographers, who collect, interpret and then apply critical chart corrections.
NOAA maintains over 1,000 charts, which it takes measures to keep current via the Coast Guard's weekly Local Notice to Mariners changes. However, constantly changing information also necessitates entirely new chart editions. According to a 2007 Hydrographic Services Review Panel report, "Each year, additional areas are identified for resurvey due to natural shifts in sea bottoms and water depths caused by such phenomena as currents, hurricanes, glacier melts and earthquakes."
"The NOAA litho chart implies a level of safety that is not truly present," explains Dave DeGree, president of OceanGrafix. "These charts can sit in the government warehouse or on distributor shelves for months, even years. For boaters, new editions should be the signal that it's time to buy a new chart."
These charts can sit in the government warehouse or on distributor shelves for months, even years. For boaters, new editions should be the signal that it's time to buy a new chart.
Through its exclusive relationship with NOAA, OceanGrafix is able to offer these new paper charts from two to eight weeks before their lithographic counterparts. Using its sophisticated system to provide print-on-demand charts, OceanGrafix continuously downloads updated cartographic information directly from NOAA databases.
The new chart editions are available from the OceanGrafix network of chart agents (see a complete list of agents). In addition, OceanGrafix remote printers-- located around the U.S. and in Canada, Panama and Japan--are continually ready to print on-demand charts for customers who can literally watch as their new chart is printed.
These latest chart editions cover areas throughout the country, from the Florida Keys to Alaska. The new chart editions are available immediately.
About OceanGrafix
St. Paul, Minnesota-based OceanGrafix (www.oceangrafix.com) is the first company to offer print-on-demand nautical charts (which are up-to-date at the time of printing) for recreational and commercial boaters. Working in partnership with NOAA, the company ensures the most accurate information available is reflected on its charts.
NOAA maintains over 1,000 charts, which it takes measures to keep current via the Coast Guard's weekly Local Notice to Mariners changes. However, constantly changing information also necessitates entirely new chart editions. According to a 2007 Hydrographic Services Review Panel report, "Each year, additional areas are identified for resurvey due to natural shifts in sea bottoms and water depths caused by such phenomena as currents, hurricanes, glacier melts and earthquakes."
"The NOAA litho chart implies a level of safety that is not truly present," explains Dave DeGree, president of OceanGrafix. "These charts can sit in the government warehouse or on distributor shelves for months, even years. For boaters, new editions should be the signal that it's time to buy a new chart."
These charts can sit in the government warehouse or on distributor shelves for months, even years. For boaters, new editions should be the signal that it's time to buy a new chart.
Through its exclusive relationship with NOAA, OceanGrafix is able to offer these new paper charts from two to eight weeks before their lithographic counterparts. Using its sophisticated system to provide print-on-demand charts, OceanGrafix continuously downloads updated cartographic information directly from NOAA databases.
The new chart editions are available from the OceanGrafix network of chart agents (see a complete list of agents). In addition, OceanGrafix remote printers-- located around the U.S. and in Canada, Panama and Japan--are continually ready to print on-demand charts for customers who can literally watch as their new chart is printed.
These latest chart editions cover areas throughout the country, from the Florida Keys to Alaska. The new chart editions are available immediately.
About OceanGrafix
St. Paul, Minnesota-based OceanGrafix (www.oceangrafix.com) is the first company to offer print-on-demand nautical charts (which are up-to-date at the time of printing) for recreational and commercial boaters. Working in partnership with NOAA, the company ensures the most accurate information available is reflected on its charts.